HUNTSVILLE – The memories of graduating from high school are often an emotional experience.
And that was no less true for Huntsville’s J.O. Johnson High School graduates when the school closed five years ago.
Former students took bold action by becoming stakeholders in their community and set out to build the new Legacy Park on the former school campus.
With mission accomplished, a community-wide ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for June 28 for the official opening of the new park. The event is 3 p.m. at 6201 Creighton Ave. in North Huntsville.
There will be a community celebration with music, food, giveaways and activities for the kids.
Legacy Park complements the adjacent Johnson Legacy Center, a publicly funded recreation center that continues to be popular with the community.
The former school building had been used as a Public Safety Training Center since then, but will eventually be demolished to create additional parking for the Legacy Center.
Within walking distance of the campus, developers are building single-family homes with amenities and price points to match any residential development in the city. A great deal of that project includes land from the former high school football practice field.
“People said these kinds of things couldn’t happen here, but we’re seeing success in Northwest Huntsville, and we’re parlaying that success to do even more,” said District 1 City Councilman Devyn Keith.
Mayor Tommy Battle said the thriving Johnson campus is indicative of a resurgence happening in North Huntsville that began with a commitment to invest in three areas – education, public safety and community. The results, he said, are stronger schools, reduced crime and new home construction.
“It’s a great time to be mayor because we have a great story to tell – a story of success, prosperity and jobs,” he said. “We’re very fortunate to have what we have now, but we have it because of a lot of hard work.”
During a recent District 1 Town Hall, City Administrator John Hamilton said the public and private collaboration would continue.
“The park will function as a piece of public recreational infrastructure in the center of the community,” Hamilton said.
Legacy Park will include a large play area with playground equipment, hillside slides, a walking loop and green space.
The main attractions are two green spaces for groups to rent for family or community events.
Many public events have been traditionally held at Stoner Field Park. While that will remain a great community asset, this new park will add an even better alternative for many gatherings, according to Chad Bostick of Bostick Landscape Architects who designed Legacy Park.
“Some of the events that have happened at Stoner Field can be shifted to this location,” he said. “It will be something unique that no other park in Huntsville has.”
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